The previous government had arbitrarily increased the retiring age of the CMDs from 65 to 67 years.

The association, in a letter to the Punjab CM, has drawn his attention to the fact that the term of present CMD of PSPCL was to be completed on February 8 as that is the day when he attains the age of 65 years.

As his retirement date was falling during the period when election code of conduct was in place, so in order to subvert the election code of conduct, age of retirement of the CMD was increased to 67 years. They have written that the decision was taken by the previous government in their last cabinet meeting held on December 10 last year.

They have also alleged that the topic of extending the retiring age was not even in the agenda of the cabinet meeting.

Baldev Singh, President of the association said that this is probably the only instance in India, where the retirement age has been increased beyond 65 years. Even a person holding constitutional posts such as the Judges of the Supreme cannot serve beyond the age of 65 years.

Keeping in view the latest decision of the new government in Punjab to review all the decisions taken by the previous government during last six months, the association has made an appeal to the CM of the state to withdraw the alleged illegal & arbitrary order of extending the age of CMDs of PSPCL/PSTCL.

It should be mentioned that KD Chaudhri was appointed as CMD of PSPCL for a period of 1 year in June 2010 and he was given an extension of 'another three years or 62 years of age whichever achieved earlier'. But just before a day he was supposed to attain the age of 62 years, the age of retirement for the CMD was increased from 62 to 65 years, thus granting him another extension. After expiry of his third extension, he was allowed to continue till further orders without any term.